Flexible container for liquid transport, liquid transport method using the container, liquid transport apparatus using the container, method for washing the container, and washing equipment

ABSTRACT

A flexible container for liquid transport made of a flexible material includes a top face portion, a bottom face portion, and a peripheral face portion connecting the top face portion and the bottom face portion. An air tight, water resistant slide fastener is openably/closably mounted to the peripheral face portion of the container. A liquid stirring port is provided at the top face portion, and a liquid injecting and ejecting port are provided at a lower end of a rear face portion of the peripheral face portion. Container suspending pieces and bottom face portion fixing pieces are mounted at the top face portion of the container and at four corners of the bottom face portion. During washing, the container can be washed reliably and efficiently while the inside of the spread out container can be visually checked by efficiently utilizing the air tight, water resistant slide fastener, liquid stirring port, liquid injecting and ejecting port, and container suspending pieces, and bottom face port fixing pieces. Thus, according to the present invention, washing, sterilizing and disinfecting treatments and thereafter drying treatment by heating can be performed efficiently, with the container having higher strength, higher air tightness and water resistance.

This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 09/652,156, filed Aug. 31,2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a flexible container having a specificstructure consisting of a rubber coated fabric or the like and adoptedto contain and transport liquid; a liquid transport method and apparatususing the container, and a method and facility for washing thecontainer.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, in a case where specific liquid is transported by meansof a vehicle exclusive for liquid transport, equipped with a tank, thereis no inconvenience if such specific liquid is housed and transported ona way to go and another liquid is housed and transported on a way toreturn. However, in a case where no liquid is transported on a way toreturn, the vehicle has to return with only empty containers, which isextremely inefficient from an economical aspect.

In order to solve such problem, Japanese Patent Laid-open PublicationNo. 3-275485 and Japanese Utility Model Laid-open Publication No.5-13993, for example, disclose flexible containers for liquid transport,in which the liquid is contained in a foldable flexible container,transported to a destination, and replaced into another container at thedestination. Thereafter, the flexible container is folded, which hasmade it possible to load another ordinary carriage on a returningvehicle and transport it on a way to return. All of these containers areprovided with liquid injecting and ejecting ports.

In the meantime, in a case where the flexible container is loaded in afreight container and transported while liquid is contained therein, theliquid is less moved, and the flexible container is less deformed duringconstant-speed running when a vehicle runs at a constant speed withoutany acceleration or deceleration. However, at the braking, startup, oracceleration of the vehicle, the liquid moved in the forward andbackward direction due to inertia, so that the flexible container forliquid transport is locally swelled at its upper portion. As a result,local distortion is repeatedly generated at the flexible container forliquid transport, whereby its durability is lowered. In particular, theliquid is significantly moved due to inertia caused by braking. When thevehicle brakes, particularly in sudden stoppage, the rate of swelling ofthe flexible container becomes greater than that made in the otheracceleration or deceleration. Thus, a shocking load acts to an driver atevery braking, so that the subsequent driving is impaired.

According to suggestions of the above publications, there is adopted astructure in which deformation due to the liquid movement of thecontainer is reduced to the minimum in order to eliminate the lowereddurability of the flexible container or discomfort of the driver asdescribed above. in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 3-275485for example, the Young's module of a material for a ¼ portion at theforward side of the container, especially the upper part of it, which isthe most deformable during braking, is set to be greater than that ofthe other portion so as to reinforce the material. Alternatively, in theaforementioned Japanese Utility Model Laid-open Publication No. 5-13993,a band is secured to a peripheral face of a cylindrical flexiblecontainer at a height which is ½ or less from a bottom face thereof, ora core material reinforcing layer and a highly elastic element arelaminated integrally with each other in order to enhance rigidity.

In this manner, because the lowered durability of the flexible containeror discomfort of the driver can be eliminated, advantageous effect oftransport using a flexible container of such type as described above hasbeen increased. In the recent years, in food industries such as drinksor food oil, attention is focused on transport using these flexiblecontainers. In particular, if it becomes possible to transport freshmilk or various juices or the like contained in the containers from asource to a consuming area, the transport efficiency is improved asdescribed above, which is economically profitable considering the priceof the container. Hence, in edible liquid of such type, the freshness ismost essential. Moreover, it is greatly restricted from the viewpoint offood sanitation.

Specifically, if liquid to be transported by a flexible container ofsuch type is edible liquid , drinks or the like, the inside of thecontainer must always be cleaned and sanitarily controlled. After havingbeen transported, therefore, the aforementioned flexible container issubject to liquid treatments such as washing, sterilization, anddisinfecting treatments. In order to facilitate these treatments,according to the specification of U.S. Pat. No. 3,965,953 for example,an air tight and water resistant slide fastener of 5 cm in length ismounted to a center of an upper surface in a longitudinal direction ofan elongated flexible container having its liquid capacity of 1 m³, sothat the fastener mounted portion can be opened and closed.

In the flexible container disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,965,953specification, a slit-shaped opening is formed openably on the center ofthe upper surface of the container by means of an air tight waterresistant slide fastener. With only such a small slit shaped opening,however, there has been a problem that an attempt to surely wash,sterilize, or disinfect the inside of the container has been extremelycumbersome. In particular, the subsequent drying treatment requires longtime.

On the other hand, in a case where a flexible container containing aliquid is loaded and transported on the exclusive, the liquid is lessmoved in the flexible container and the container is less deformedduring constant-speed running when the vehicle runs at a constant speedwithout acceleration or deceleration as indicated by solid line in FIG.35. However, during braking, startup, or acceleration of the vehicle,the liquid is moved in the forward and backward direction of the vehicledue to inertia, and there occurs a phenomenon that the flexiblecontainer is locally swelled as indicated by two short dotted lines inthe figure. In particular, such swelling occurs in a wave-shape at theupper portion of the flexible container.

As in the flexible container disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,965,963specification, in the case where an airtight water resistant slidefastener is mounted to the upper surface portion of the flexiblecontainer, a large stress is repeatedly applied to the air tight waterresistant slide fastener due to the repeated swelling of the flexiblecontainer. As a result, the air tightness and water resistance of theslide fastener are lowered, and liquid leakage occurs.

Further, in the flexible container disclosed in the USP specification aswell as the flexible container disclosed in the above publication, it isimpossible to spread the container itself. Even if washing is performedfor every transport, visual check cannot be performed, which makes itimpossible to ensure that the inside of the container is surely cleaned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in order to solve the aforementionedvarious problems. It is, therefore, an object of the present inventionto provide a flexible container for liquid transport capable ofperforming efficient washing, sterilization & disinfecting treatment aswell as drying treatment, and at the same time, ensuring requireddurability and air tightness & water resistance. It is also an object ofthe present invention to provide a liquid transport method and apparatususing the container, and a method and facility for washing thecontainer.

In order to achieve the above objects, the inventors made utmost effortsand experiments as to what kind of container structure should beprovided to ensure the most efficient washing or sterilization treatmentor the like, and to ensure required strength, and moreover, prevent acontainer from liquid leakage. As a result, there was made a conclusionthat a structure capable of exposing a majority of an inside surface ofthe container to outside during washing makes it possible to perform theabove treatments and drying using the liquid quickly and efficiently.

The inventors considered that the above washing, sterilization, anddrying treatments can be performed efficiently if the container isstructured such that a peripheral face portion connecting a top faceportion and a bottom face portion thereof is vertically divided into twosections, a part of which is fixed, while at least ½ of a periphery ofthe peripheral face portion is openable/closable with air tightness.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is adoptedthe simplest and most rational structure based on the above result ofthe consideration. That is, the present invention is directed to aflexible container for liquid transport comprising a top face portion, abottom face portion, and a peripheral face portion connecting the topface portion and the bottom face portion, wherein an air tight, waterresistant slide fastener is openably/closably mounted to the peripheralface portion, and a mount height h of the slide fastener from the bottomface portion is ½ or less of a total height H of the container.

The above flexible container for liquid transport can transport not onlydrinks such as milk or juice but also food oil or the like. Therefore,according to a second aspect of the present invention, the constituentelements of the container are flame resistant so that safety againstfire can be ensured. In order to obtain flame resistance, not only acontainer constituent sheet and the air tight, water resistant slidefastener is made of flame resistant material, but also metal plating orthe like is applied to surfaces of these. Alternatively, a proper flameresistant material may be added to these materials.

In these aspects of the present invention, the shape of the container isnot particularly limited, and there may be employed an elongatedthree-dimensional container, a cylindrical container, or a containerhaving a polygonal shape such as triangular or pentagonal shape as faras the container has a top face portion, a bottom face portion, and aperipheral face portion connecting the top face portion and bottom faceportion.

As a result of a plenty of experiments, with respect to a behavior ofthe liquid in a flexible container due to acceleration or decelerationduring startup or braking during transport, it is found that the liquidmoves significantly forward and backward in a height which issubstantially ½ from a liquid level, as shown in FIG. 35, and themovement amount is extremely small at a portion deeper than the abovelevel. Specifically, the liquid in a container moves the most greatly ata portion close to the front face portion of the top face portion, andits movement amount is gradually reduced in a deeper portion. At adeeper portion below ½ of the container, the liquid hardly moves. Thus,when the movement amount changes, stress acting to the front faceportion or the rear face portion of the container changes similarly. Theswelling amount of the flexible container depends on its change amount.

On the other hand, for an air tight, water resistant slide fastenerapplied to a flexible container of this type, there can be adopted astructure which is similar to that of a conventional air tight, waterresistant slide fastener to be used for water resistant cloth or divingsuit. As described above, an extremely large liquid pressure is appliedduring liquid transport. Therefore, a variety of limitations are appliedto its material or processing precision.

With respect to a structure of the air tight, water resistant slidefastener used for diving suit or the like, each of a pair of fastenerstringers composed of water resistant tapes is bent in a substantial Ωshape at its one side edge. At the bent portions, a number ofsubstantially T shaped teeth are respetively pinched by C shaped toothclamps, and are fixed in parallel. A slider is so constructed that themutually opposite teeth are made to be engaged with each other, and atthe same time, opposite pairs of top and bottom bent portions of thetape bent portions are tightly pressed to each other, thereby impartingair tightness and water resistance to the slide fastener.

A water resistant tape composing a fastener stringer to be used in thepresent invention is a tape in which synthetic rubber, polyvinylchloride resin, or polyurethane resin is coated or pasted to a basecloth woven by warp yarns and weft yarns, thereby imparting waterresistance and elasticity. On the other hand, various kinds of metalsare used for the teeth and slider.

In addition, when liquid of 11 m³ is contained and sealed in anelongated three-dimensional container of 4290 mm in length, 2290 mm inwidth, and 1140 mm in height, the stress at a position of 200 mm belowfrom the top face portion of the container during sudden stoppage of thevehicle is substantially 2.5 to 3 times of the stress in the containeracting to a position of 200 to 300 mm above from the bottom face portionof the container.

In view of these factors, as well as safety, according to the firstaspect of the present invention, it is required to mount an air tight,water resistant slide fastener at a position of ½ or less of a totalheight of the container. Desirably as in a third aspect of the presentinvention, the mount height h of the air tight, water resistant slidefastener from the container bottom face portion is within a range of{fraction (1/10)} to ½ of the total height h of the container. In a casewhere the air tight, water resistant slide fastener is mounted to acorner which is a boundary between the bottom face portion andperipheral face portion of the container, there is a danger that the airtight, water resistant fastener is perpendicularly bent at alongitudinal direction of engaging portions of the slide fastener sothat excessive force is applied to the engaging portions, and liquidleakage occurs.

Therefore, it is preferable that the air tight, water resistant slidefastener be mounted at flat portions excluding corners of the container.Further desirably, as in a fourth aspect of the present invention, themount height h of the air tight, water resistant slide fastener from thebottom face portion is within a range of {fraction (1/7)} to ⅓ of thetotal height h of the container. Because it is required to provide aliquid injecting and ejecting port at the peripheral face portion in thevicinity of the bottom face portion of the container, it is preferablethat the air tight, water resistant slide fastener be mounted to suchupper position avoiding the mount position of the liquid injecting andejecting port.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the container isdefined as an elongated three-dimensional container in which theperipheral face portion comprises a front face portion, a rear faceportion, and first and second side face portions. Moreover, thecontainer is so defined that the air tight, water resistant slidefastener is continuously mounted over three face portions among thefront face portion, rear face portion, and the first and second sideface portions, and upper and lower stoppers of the air tight, waterresistant fastener are arranged at the other face portion excluding thefront face portion.

In this way, the air tight, water resistant slide fastener iscontinuously mounted over at least three face portions of the front faceportion, rear face portion, and first and second side face portionsamong four peripheral face portions of the elongated container.Therefore, when the slide fastener is opened, the container is openedinto two sections at the three face portions at which the slide fasteneris continuously mounted, so that the inside surface of the container isexposed substantially fully. As a result, the container washing orsterilization treatment and drying treatment can be performedcontinuously and efficiently. The container can always be used as aclean container. In particular, sanitary management is facilitated intransport of drinks such as milk or juice.

The front face portion should be always included in the above-mentionedthree face portions at which the air tight, water resistant fastener iscontinuously mounted. This is because the liquid in the flexiblecontainer moves significantly in the forward direction during suddenbraking of a transport vehicle in which the operation is repeatedly doneso that the largest load is applied to the front face side, as describedabove. Thus, in a case where the upper and lower stoppers of the airtight, water resistant slide fastener are mounted to the front faceportion, there is a danger that the container will lose the airtightness and water resistance at an earlier stage.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the container isso defined that the air tight, water resistant slide fastener iscontinuously mounted over the front face portion, rear face portion, andsecond side face portion, and the upper and lower stoppers are arrangedat the first side face portion.

In this aspect of the invention, the feature of the invention accordingto the fifth aspect is further limited, and the upper and lower stoppersof the air tight, water resistant slide fastener are mounted to thefirst side face portion. Specifically, in a case where the liquid istransported by using the flexible container of such type, an excessiveload acts to the front or rear face portion of the container when theliquid in the container moves under braking or acceleration anddeceleration of the transport vehicle. However, not so large load changeoccurs at the side face portions. Therefore, the upper and lowerstoppers, which are the most likely to be damaged in the air tight,water resistant slide fastener, are mounted to the first side faceportion.

Further, an opening and closing end of the air tight, water resistantslide fastener against the container is extended to the first side faceportion, which makes it possible to further largely and efficiently openand spread out the container. In particular, the liquid residue quantitycan be reduced to the minimum by the washing or sterilization treatmentas well, and the drying efficiency is further improved.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a container comprising engaging means for engagingly fitting aslider to the upper stopper and/or a part of peripheral face portion ofthe air tight, water resistant slide fastener during closing of the airtight, water resistant slide fastener. In general, an air tight, waterresistant slide fastener has such a structure that its slider is adaptedto be engagingly fitted to its upper stopper when the slider fastener isclosed. However, as in the present invention, in the case where theaforementioned excessive and shocking load is repeatedly applied to theslide fastener, there is a danger that said engaging fitting is broken,so that the slider works spontaneously, and the upper end of the slidefastener is opened, whereby the liquid in the container leaks out.

In the present invention, in order to prevent the engaging fitting frombreaking, there is adopted a structure in which a part of the slider,for example, a pull tab mounted to a part of the slider can beengagingly fitted at a periphery of the upper stopper of the air tight,water resistant slide fastener by engaging fittings such as a snapbutton.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a stirring port protruding upwardly at the top face portion ofthe flexible container, and an openable/closable liquid injecting andejecting port formed on the peripheral face portion in the vicinity ofthe bottom face portion. Further, as in a tenth aspect of the presentinvention, which will be described later, it is desirable that airevacuating means for adjusting the air exhaust amount of the inside gasin accordance to the pressure in the container is provided at thestirring port. As this air evacuating means, it is preferable that anair tight, water resistant slide fastener be openably provided.

In this case, the air tight, water resistant slide fastener provided atthe stirring port is spaced upwardly from the top face portion of thecontainer. Thus, the fastener is not influenced by excessive pressurechange caused by the liquid movement during liquid transport, and thesize of the stirring port can be arbitrarily determined. Further, byadjusting the opening and closing quantity of the air tight, waterresistant slide fastener, the air evacuation amount in the container canbe regulated.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, containersuspending pieces are provided at least at two positions of a peripheraledge of the top face portion, and bottom face portion fixing pieces areprovided at least two positions of a peripheral edges of the bottom faceportion.

With such structure, as in an eighteenth aspect of the present inventionwhich will be described later, there can be adopted a method for washinga flexible container for liquid transport comprising: closing the airtight, water resistant slide fastener while a container is empty;forming the container to be in its swelled state; opening the liquidstirring port to jet the washing liquid toward an internal wall of theflexible container via the stirring port; and ejecting residue adheringto the internal wall and residue liquid in the container to the outsideof the container via the liquid injecting and ejecting port.

Here, forming the container means that the flexible container is formedin a wrinkle free state and swelled which is the same as that whenliquid is charged in the container, for a purpose of washing the insideof the flexible container in its contracted state after ejection of thetransport liquid. As means for such forming, as in a twenty-secondaspect of the present invention, it is preferable that this forming isdone by blowing air to the inside of the flexible container. Furtherpreferably, as in a twenty-third aspect of the present invention asdescribed later, the air may be blown from the liquid injecting andejecting port that is usually a liquid injecting and ejecting port fortransport liquid as described in the eighth aspect of the presentinvention.

Further, as another means for such forming, as in a twenty-fourth aspectof the present invention which will be described later, such forming canbe done by upwardly pulling a plurality of portions of the container totense the container. Moreover, this tensing can be performed byutilizing the container suspending pieces and bottom face portion fixingpieces mounted to the container, as defined in the ninth aspect of thepresent invention, for fixing the container during liquid transport.Specifically, the container suspending pieces are supported andsuspended by a support bar being overhung above the container in avehicle or washing equipment for example, and the bottom face portionfixing pieces are fixed to be provided on the floor face of the vehicleor washing equipment in a tensile state, whereby a wrinkle freethree-dimensional shape can be formed in a manner similar to that whenthe flexible container is charged with liquid.

In this state, as described above, air can be further blown into thecontainer. At this time, the air tight, water resistant slide fastenerthat is the above-mentioned air evacuating means of the liquid stirringport is utilized to adjust its air evacuating quantity in accordancewith the degree of opening and closing of the air tight, water resistantslide fastener. In a twenty-first aspect of the present invention asdescribed later, in a case where the flexible container is formed in itsshape by blowing air from the liquid stirring port, there is apossibility that, if the air blowing quantity is excessive, thecontainer is broken due to its swelling. In the present invention, theair tight, water resistant slide fastener mounted to the liquid stirringport is opened as required, whereby the air in the container isevacuated to the outside.

In washing the container formed in its shape as described previously,while the air tight, water resistant slide fastener at the peripheralface portion is closed, a hose or the like is inserted into thecontainer via the transport liquid stirring port mounted to the top faceportion, and the washing liquid is jetted toward the internal wall ofthe container under a predetermined pressure. At this time, the jettingmay be performed by using a general nozzle. However, as in atwenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, which will be as describedlater, it is preferable that a jetting nozzle for radiantly jetting maybe used so that the internal wall of the container can be washeduniformly, and the washing time can be reduced. Further preferably, thissimultaneous washing and ejecting the washing liquid to the outside ofthe container make it possible to effectively remove the residueadhering to the internal wall face of the container, residual liquid,and the washing liquid.

Further, when this washing liquid is jetted, as in the twenty-firstaspect of the present invention, the washing liquid is jetted toward theinternal wall of the flexible container, and at the same time, air isblown from the liquid stirring port, whereby the washing liquid can bepositively ejected to the outside of the container by way of the airpressure, and the container is free from being contracted and wrinkledwhen being washed.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a liquid transport method using a flexible container for liquidtransport, the container comprising: a top face portion, a bottom faceportion, and a peripheral face portion connecting the top face portionand the bottom face portion, and having an air tight, water resistantslide fastener openably/closably mounted to the peripheral face portion,the method comprising: charging a liquid in the flexible container;transporting it to a destination; ejecting the liquid in the containerfrom the transported container into another container; opening the airtight, water resistant slide fastener after liquid ejection to spreadout and open the peripheral face portion in a direction in which the topface portion and the bottom face portion are separated from each otheras being fanned out about a basic point at a part of the peripheral faceportion of the container, so that an internal face of the container isexposed; subjecting the flexible container having the exposed internalface to washing or sterilizing treatment, and then, drying thecontainer; and closing the air tight, water resistant slide fastener ofthe container after the drying.

The liquids to be transported by a flexible container of this type areoften various kinds of drinks. Therefore, the container must always beclean and sanitary. In the liquid transport method according to thepresent invention, the air tight, water resistant slide fastener isopenably/closably mounted to the peripheral face portion of the flexiblecontainer, thereby making it possible to largely open at least theperipheral face portion of the container. Thus, by largely opening theperipheral face portion by operating the air tight, water resistantslide fastener when the inside of the container is subjected to washingor sterilizing treatment after the liquid has been ejected from thecontainer having been transported, the container can be spread outoutwardly, and the internal face of the container can be exposed to theoutside. In this state, when the flexible container is subjected towashing or sterilizing treatment, the inside of the container can bewashed and sterilized thoroughly and efficiently. Further, the dryingtime can be reduced during drying because the internal face of thecontainer is directly exposed to the outside.

Furthermore, by closing the air tight, water resistant slide fastener ofthe container after having been dried, the inside of the container isprevented from being exposed to the outside air. As a result,cleanliness and sterile state can be maintained for a long time, whichis very sanitary.

In a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided aliquid transport apparatus using a flexible container for liquidtransport, the flexible container comprising a top face portion, abottom face portion, and a peripheral face portion connecting the topface portion and the bottom face portion, and having an air tight, waterresistant slide fastener openably/closably mounted thereto, said liquidtransport apparatus comprising: the air tight, water resistant slidefastener mounted to the peripheral face portion of the flexiblecontainer; a vehicle having a storage chamber for storing the flexiblecontainer in a carriage; and a pair of support wall portions beingmovable in forward and backward direction of the carriage and to befixed to the carriage, the support wall portions each including ahooking portion for fixing a bottom face portion fixing piece providedat the bottom edge of the flexible container.

In the storage chamber for the flexible container, in particular, a pairof forward and backward support wall portions are arranged in theforward and backward direction of the carriage. As a result, the frontand rear face portions of the flexible container containing and sealingliquid that are easily subjected to the most excessive repetitivepressure changes during the liquid transport are supported by theforward and backward support wall portions, whereby the flexiblecontainer is prevented from swelling in the forward and backwarddirection to ensure durability of the container. Further, a shockingload upon a driver, which is caused by sudden braking or suddenacceleration during liquid transport, is reduced. Furthermore, a pair ofthe forward and backward support wall portions have engagement portionsthat can be engaged with the bottom face portion fixing pieces providedat a bottom edge of the flexible container. The bottom face portion ofthe flexible container can be fixed to be stabilized and immobilized onthe carriage by engaging the bottom face portion fixing pieces and theengagement portion with each other.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a method for washing a flexible container for liquid transport,which is preferable to a flexible container having an essential featureas described above and is the most simplest, the flexible containerbeing made of an air tight, water resistant sheet material, thecontainer comprising a top face portion, a bottom face portion, and aperipheral face portion connecting the top face portion and the bottomface portion, and having an air tight, water resistant slide fastenermounted to the peripheral face portion with an exclusion of anon-opening and closing portion, the washing method comprising: openingthe air tight, water resistant slide fastener; suspending the containerto spread out and open a lower part of the peripheral face portion in adirection in which the top face portion and the bottom face portion areseparated from each other as being fanned out about an upper basic pointat the non-opening and closing portion of the peripheral portion so thatan internal face of the container is exposed to the outside; and dryingthe flexible container, after washing or sterilizing treatment.

The peripheral face portion of the container is thus largely opened, sothat when the inside of the container is subjected to washing orsterilizing treatment after the liquid has been ejected from thecontainer after the liquid transport, the air tight, water resistantslide fastener is operated to largely open the peripheral face portion,whereby the container can be spread out outwardly, and the internal faceof the container can be exposed to the outside. When the flexiblecontainer is subjected to washing or sterilizing treatment in thisstate, the inside of the container can be washed or sterilized fully andefficiently. Further, the drying time can be greatly reduced because theinternal face of the container is directly exposed to the outside at thetime of the sequent drying.

An eighteenth aspect of the present invention is different from theseventeenth aspect of the present invention. The container isstructurally composed of an air tight, water resistant sheet material,and includes a top face portion, a bottom face portion, and a peripheralface portion connecting the top face portion and the bottom faceportion. The container is formed with a liquid stirring port having airevacuating means in accordance with an internal pressure and formed atthe top face portion, and an injecting and ejecting liquid port which isopenable/closable is formed on the peripheral portion in the vicinity ofthe bottom face. An air tight, water resistant slide fastener is mountedto the peripheral face portion with an exception of a non-opening andclosing portion.

A method for washing the thus structured flexible container for liquidtransport is characterized by closing the air tight, water resistantslide fastener while the container is empty; forming the container to bein its swelled state; opening the liquid stirring port to jet thewashing liquid toward an internal wall of the flexible container via thestirring port; and ejecting the residue adhering to the internal walland the residual liquid in the container to the outside of the containervia the liquid injecting and ejecting port, together with the washingliquid.

According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, the washingmethod further comprises: jetting sterilizing and disinfecting solutiontoward the internal wall of the flexible container via the liquidstirring port in the same manner after the completion of the washingaccording to the eighteenth aspect; and ejecting the sterilizing anddisinfecting solution to the outside of the container via the liquidinjecting and ejecting port and performing finish washing. In general,after finish washing using the sterilizing and disinfecting solution,the residual liquid in the container is washed out. Further, accordingto a twentieth aspect of the present invention, water may be jetted viathe liquid stirring port after the sterilizing and disinfecting solutionare ejected, and the water is ejected to the outside of the containervia the liquid injecting and ejecting port.

When treatment liquid such as washing liquid is jetted into thecontainer, it is preferable that the treatment liquid is jetted towardthe internal wall of the flexible container and at the same time, air isblown from the liquid stirring port, as in the twenty-first aspect ofthe present invention. Further, when the treatment liquid is ejected tothe outside of the container, it is preferable that the bottom faceportion side opposite to the liquid injecting and ejecting port israised when the washing liquid or the like is ejected, and the containeris inclined to promote ejection of the washing liquid or the like to theoutside of the container, as in a twenty-sixth aspect of the presentinvention.

According to twenty-seventh and fourth aspects of the present invention,the washing liquid and the sterilizing and disinfecting solution aredefined. As the washing liquid, warm water of 40 to 70° C. intemperature is used. As the sterilizing and disinfecting solution,aqueous solution of sodium hypochlorite whose concentration is 300 ppmor less is used.

A twenty-ninth aspect of the present invention is a method for washing aflexible container having the above-mentioned structure which is furtherdifferent from the washing method according to the nineteenth aspect ofthe present invention. The method comprises: opening an air tight, waterresistant slide fastener of a flexible container after ejecting thetransport liquid; spreading out and opening the container with the slidefastener being opened in a direction in which the top face portion andbottom face portion of the flexible container are separated from eachother as being fanned out about a basic point at the non-opening andclosing portion so that the internal face of the container is exposed tothe outside; pre-washing the flexible container exposing the internalface by using washing liquid; performing finish washing for thecontainer using the sterilizing and disinfecting solution; and heatingand drying the washed flexible container.

That is, in the present invention, pre-washing and finish washing areperformed while the entire container is greatly spread out with itsinternal wall face being exposed to the outside. Thus, containerwashing, sterilizing and disinfecting treatment, and drying treatment ofthe container can be performed successively and efficiently. Moreover,the washing result can be visually checked, so that a clean containercan always be used. In particular, sanitary management is facilitated intransporting drinks such as milk or juice.

According to a thirtieth aspect of the present invention, how to spreadout the container is specified. That is, The flexible container has, atthe periphery of the non-opening and closing portion, containersuspending pieces at least at two positions of the peripheral edge ofthe top face portion, and bottom face portion fixing pieces at least attwo positions of the peripheral edge of the bottom face portion. Whenthe container suspending pieces and the bottom face portion fixingpieces are pulled up so as to be drawn to each other, the flexiblecontainer is automatically spread out and opened.

According to a thirty-first aspect of the present invention, it isdefined as to how to perform pre-washing using the washing liquid andfinish washing using the sterilizing and disinfecting solution or thelike. The pre-washing and finish washing are performed by immersing theflexible container at least in the washing liquid and the sterilizingand disinfecting solution, or by jetting the washing liquid and thesterilizing and disinfecting solution toward the flexible container.

According to thirty-second and thirty-fourth aspects of the presentinvention, the washing liquid and the sterilizing and disinfectingsolution are defined. As the washing liquid, warm water of 40 to 70° C.in temperature is used. Alternatively, aqueous solution in which alkalidetergent of 3 to 7 wt. % is further added to the warm water may beused. As the sterilizing and disinfecting solution, aqueous solution ofsodium hypochlorite whose concentration is 300 ppm or less is used.

According to the thirty-fifth aspect of the present invention, as hasbeen described hereinbefore, it is defined that temporary washing isperformed before the washing method according to the sixteenth ortwenty-first aspect is performed. That is, this temporary washingcomprises: forming the flexible container to be in its swelled stateafter the transport liquid has been ejected before washing; injectingthe washing liquid from the liquid injecting and ejecting port; ejectingthe air in the container via air evacuating means of the liquid stirringport as injection quantity of the washing liquid increase; and ejectingthe washing liquid from the liquid injecting and ejecting port to theoutside together with the residual liquid of the transport liquid afterthe injection quantity of the washing liquid has reached itspredetermined charge quantity.

Further, in a flexible container of this type, after the internaltransport liquid is transported to a destination, and is ejected there,the container is folded and brought back home. In this state, mold islikely to occur in the residual liquid in the container, which makes thesubsequent wash cumbersome, and it is not preferable from the sanitarypoint of view. Therefore, it is desirable that temporary washing isperformed before performing the subsequent main washing immediatelyafter the internal transport liquid has been transported to adestination and replaced in another container.

According to the thirty-fifth aspect of the present invention, aflexible container before the main washing is performed and after thetransport liquid has been ejected is formed to be in a wrinkle free,swelled state immediately after the ejection of the transport liquid,and the washing liquid is injected from the liquid injecting andejecting port. At this time, the air in the container is evacuated viathe air evacuating means of the liquid stirring port as the injectionquantity of the washing liquid increase. After the injection quantity ofthe washing liquid has reached its predetermined charge quantity, thewashing liquid is ejected from the liquid injecting and ejecting port tothe outside together with the residual liquid of the transport liquid,so that the temporary washing is completed. As another air evacuatingmeans, a pressure relief valve for example, may be employed. If the airin the container is not evacuated during this temporary washing, theinternal pressure of the container increases excessively, whereby thecontainer and the air tight, water resistant slide fastener mounted tothe peripheral face portion thereof may be damaged.

According to a thirty-sixth aspect of the present invention, after thewashing liquid used for the temporary washing has been ejected, theflexible container is folded, while the internal residual liquid isintroduced into the liquid injecting and ejecting port so as to besqueezed, so that the residual liquid is ejected from the liquidinjecting and ejecting port. In this temporary washing, as has beendescribed hereinbefore, the transport liquid is replaced from theflexible container to another container at a destination, and theflexible container is temporarily washed on the site. Therefore, thetemporarily washed flexible container is loaded on a transport vehicle,and transported back. At this time, if this flexible container is loadedon the transport vehicle while it is spread out, the other materialscannot be loaded. Therefore, after the temporary washing has completed,the flexible container is, of course, folded, and is stored in a placefree of problems with shipment. In the present invention, when thecontainer is thus folded so as to introduce the residual liquid in thecontainer to the liquid injecting and ejecting port, most of theresidual liquid in the container is automatically ejected from theliquid injecting and ejecting port.

According to a thirty-seventh aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an equipment for washing a flexible container for liquidtransport having the above structure, which is divided into a washingarea and a drying area for the flexible container. The equipmentcomprises: guide passages overhung between the washing area and dryingarea for suspending and guiding the flexible container; and suspendingand moving means for the flexible container for guiding and moving it tothe guide passage. This washing equipment is primarily preferable inimplementing the washing method according to the twenty-ninth aspect.However, as is evident from the aforementioned description, according tothe equipment, both of the washing methods as described in theaforementioned seventeenth and eighteenth aspects can be effectivelyimplemented.

According to a thirty-eighth aspect of the present invention, the guidepassage is further extended to a storage area for the flexiblecontainer. The washed and dried flexible container is folded in itsrequired shape, and is stored in the storage area.

According to a thirty-ninth aspect of the present invention, the washingequipment is preferable in implementing the washing method according tothe eighteenth aspect of the present invention. The washing area hascontainer forming means for forming an empty flexible container to be inits swelled state. According to a fortieth aspect, it is defined thatthe container forming means is a blower for blowing air into thecontainer.

According to a forty-first aspect of the present invention, the washingarea has a washing base having an inclined top face on its top face forplacing the flexible container in such a position that the liquidinjecting and ejecting port is at a lower side of the inclined face.Therefore, in this case, the flexible container before being washed ismounted to the washing base in such a position that the liquid injectingand ejecting port is at the lower side of the inclined face. Byperforming the aforementioned subsequent operations, the waste liquid ofthe washing and finish washing can be ejected smoothly to the outside ofthe container.

Further, in a forty-second aspect of the present invention, in thewashing area, a jetting nozzle to be inserted into the liquid stirringport of the flexible container for radiantly jetting the washing liquidtoward the internal wall of the container is provided so as to implementthe washing method according to the eighteenth aspect easily andcertainly.

On the other hand, in a forty-third aspect of the present invention, anequipment preferable to the washing method according to the twenty-ninthaspect is defined, in which the washing area comprises a washing liquidvessel and a sterilizing and disinfecting solution vessel for immersingthe flexible container.

According to a forty-aspect of the present invention, in implementingthe washing method according to the eighteenth and twenty-ninth aspectsof the present invention, the washing area further comprises a jettingnozzle for jetting warm water of 40 to 70° C. Thus, the inside of thecontainer can be washed, and at the same time, the external face of thecontainer is washed by way of the jetting nozzle. In order to apply thepresent invention to implementation of the washing method according tothe eighteenth aspect, an empty container having the transport liquidejected therefrom is formed in its shape, and then, warm water is jettedtoward the external face of the container. When the present invention isapplied to the washing method according to the twenty-ninth aspect, thewarm water is jetted toward the external face of the spread outcontainer before being transferred to the above washing liquid vessel.During this jetting, under a normal efficient jetting pressure, it isdesirable that warm water is jetted while the jetting nozzle is spacedat least by 1 m from the external face of the container.

According to a forty-fifth aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an equipment for achieving efficient jet washing toward theinternal wall face of the flexible container in implementing the washingmethod according to the eighteenth and twenty-ninth aspect, theequipment comprising a tank for housing the washing liquid, thesterilizing and disinfecting solution, and warm water in the washingarea; and jetting nozzles connected to each tank via a three-wayswitching valve. According to the jetting nozzle having such astructure, the pre-washing using washing liquid and finish washing usingsterilizing and disinfecting solution, and final washing using warmwater can be implemented with a single nozzle by switching at least a5-port switching valve.

According to forty-sixth and forty-eighth aspects of the presentinvention, it is defined that a sterilizing and disinfecting lamp or anozone generator may be provided in the drying area besides a hot airheater and a hot air blowing fan. Such an equipment is preferableparticularly for a container for transport of liquid used for food, froma sanitary point of view.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a first typical embodiment of a liquidtransport apparatus, partially cut out, according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a state where a contracted flexiblecontainer before liquid injection is loaded on a carriage in the liquidtransport apparatus partially cut out.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a state of the liquid transport apparatus,partially cut out, where the flexible container is folded and stored.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically showing the first typicalembodiment of the flexible container for liquid transport according tothe present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing an end mounting portion of an air tightwater resistant slide fastener mounted to the container.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are explanatory views partially showing an example of afixing structure of a bottom face portion of the flexible containeraccording to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross section showing an example of an air tightwater resistant slide fastener for the flexible container according tothe present invention.

FIGS. 8A-8D are plan views showing an example of mounting of another airtight water resistant slide fastener to the flexible container accordingto the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a state where an air tight water resistantslide fastener, partially cut out, applied to the container is coupledand closed.

FIG. 10 is a cross section of the air tight water resistant slidefaster.

FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view showing a positional relationshipbetween a slider and an upper stopper when the air tight water resistantslide fastener is closed.

FIG. 12 is a partial side view showing a state where the slider isengagingly fitted to the upper stopper, partially cut out.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a washing andsterilizing treatment process of the flexible container.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the washingand sterilizing treatment process.

FIG. 15 is a partial perspective view showing an example of means forengagingly fitting the air tight water resistant slide fastener with thecontainer.

FIG. 16 is a partial side view showing an example of an engaginglyfitting state by the engagingly fitting means, partially cut out.

FIG. 17 is a partial perspective view showing another example of theengagingly fitting means when the air tight water resistant slidefastener is engagingly fitted to the container.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view schematically showing another embodimentof a flexible container for liquid transport according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view schematically showing a second typicalembodiment of the flexible container for liquid transport according tothe present invention.

FIG. 20 is a plan view showing an outline of a first washing equipmentaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory view showing a first step of a washing methodusing the first washing equipment according to the present invention.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory view showing a second step thereof.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory view showing the final step of the washingmethod.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory view showing a modified example of the secondstep.

FIG. 25 is a plan view showing an outline of a second washing equipmentaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 26 is an explanatory view showing a first step of washing using thesecond washing equipment.

FIG. 27 is an explanatory view showing a pre-washing step and a finishwashing step using the washing equipment.

FIG. 28 is an explanatory view showing washing steps based on a modifiedexample of the facility.

FIG. 29 is an explanatory view showing a schematic construction of anexample of a jet washing apparatus that can be used for the facility.

FIG. 30 is a schematic explanatory view showing a first stage of thepre-washing steps to be performed on a vehicle according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 31 is an explanatory view showing a second stage thereof.

FIG. 32 is an explanatory view showing a third stage thereof.

FIG. 33 is a side view showing a modified example of a pre-washingequipment on a vehicle.

FIG. 34 is an explanatory view showing the steps of folding a flexiblecontainer on a vehicle.

FIG. 35 is an explanatory view for illustrating a deformed state of thecontainer based on liquid movement while the liquid is being transportedusing the flexible container.

FIG. 36 is an explanatory view showing a relationship between ameasurement position of the container and a stress acting to theposition based on liquid movement when the liquid is being transportedusing the flexible container.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will bespecifically described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 are side views each showing an example of a firstliquid transport apparatus, partially cut out, using a typical flexiblecontainer 1 for liquid transport according to the present invention.FIG. 1 shows a vehicle for loading the flexible container filled withliquid on a carriage and transporting the container. FIG. 2 shows atransport vehicle with a contracted empty flexible container beforeliquid charge is loaded. FIG. 3 denotes the transport vehicle when theflexible container in its folded state has been stored.

A liquid transport vehicle 40 that is one of constituent elements of aliquid transport apparatus according to the present invention comprisesa storage chamber 42 for storing and loading the flexible container 1 ona carriage 41. Usually, an inside of the chamber is being cooled by acooler 43. A pair of support wall portions (bulk heads) 44 havingrigidity and strength are respectively provided at the front and rear ofthe carriage 41.

Each of the support wall portions 44 is composed of a panel made ofsteel plate-shaped panel for example, and is movable in the forward andbackward direction along a surface of the carriage 41. A support bracket45 is removably mounted on a back face 44 a of one of the support wallportions 44. When liquid is transported by the flexible container 1, thesupport wall portion 44 is made to be in its erecting position asdescribed previously. After the flexible container 1 is folded afterhaving been transported with the liquid and is stored in the storagechamber 42 of the vehicle, the support brackets 45 are removed from thesupport wall portions 44. Then, the support wall portions 44 are movedforwardly along the surface of the carriage 41 as shown in FIG. 3, andthen, is fixed to a rear wall face of a driving chamber by suitablefixing means such as a hook.

At upper end edges of a pair of the front and back support wall portions44, both ends of a holding bar 46 are removably fixed by fixing meanssuch as bolts in order to hold the flexible container 1 filled withliquid from above and to stabilize the shape of the flexible container 1during transportation.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically illustrating an appearance ofa first example of the flexible container that is a typical embodimentof the present invention; and FIG. 5 is a plan view schematicallyillustrating an embodiment in which an end of an air tight, waterresistant slide fastener of the container is mounted.

A flexible container main body 10 according to the embodiment iscomposed of an elastic sheet material on which a fiber reinforce layeris coated with polyurethane resin. The container main body 10 consistsof a rectangular top face portion 11; a rectangular bottom face portion12 which is similar to the top face portion 11; and a peripheral faceportion 13 connecting the top face portion 11 and the bottom faceportion 12. The peripheral face portion 13 is entirely formed in awidthwise elongated three-dimensional shape composed of a front faceportion 13 a, rear face portion 13 b, and a left and right pair of firstand second side face portions 13 c and 13 d.

A cylindrical air exhaust port 11 a-1 is protruded at a center close toa front face portion of the top face portion 11 of the flexiblecontainer main body 10, and a cylindrical stirring port 14 is protrudedat a position close to a rear face portion of the top face portion 11.In this embodiment, the air exhaust port 11 a-1 and the stirring port 14are made of similar materials in order to ensure good familiarity withthe container main body 10. However, these portions can be made of metalor hard synthetic resin material. When these ports are closed, a sealingcap or plug may be removably mounted thereon in the case of such hardmaterial. In a case of soft material, metal fittings (not shown) such asa spring clip for closing an end of a hose or the like may be used.Furthermore, at a center of a lower end of the rear face portion 13 b ofthe container main body 10, a liquid injecting and ejecting port 15 forliquid transport is protruded. A hose or the like (not shown) isconnected from outside to this liquid injecting and ejecting port 15during liquid injection or ejection.

Further, flexible suspending pieces 10 a are made of looped tapes aremounted at four upper corners of the flexible container main body 10,respectively. The suspending pieces 10 a are employed when a contractedflexible container main body 10 is swelled to the original shape.Specifically, the flexible container main body 10 having the air tight,water resistant slider fastener 20 closed, as shown in FIG. 2, is loadedon the carriage 41 of a vehicle while the main body 10 is contracted.Prior to liquid injection, air is blown in the container main body 10 sothat the container is swelled to the original shape. The suspendingpieces 10 a are used to lift an upper portion of the container main body10 by being pulled up manually or by a crane in order to facilitate airentry into the container main body 10.

Further, at lower end edges of the front face portion 13 a and rear faceportion 13 b of the flexible container main body 10, four bottom faceportion fixing pieces 10 b comprising engagement portions of the surfacefastener all over respective band-shaped tape are mounted. FIGS. 6A and6B show a preferred embodiment in which the bottom face portion 12 ofthe flexible container main body 10 a is engagingly fitted to thesupport wall portion 44 by means of the bottom face portion fixingpieces 10 b. As shown in FIG. 6A, a surface fastener engagement portion10 b′ in which male engagement elements and female engagement elementscoexist are coexisted at the lower face of the bottom face portionfixing pieces 10 b. A plurality of hooking portions 44 e are mountedalong the lower end edge of the rear face 44 a of one of the supportwall portions 44. The bottom face portion fixing pieces 10 b, as shownin FIG. 6B, are wound around the hooking portions 44 e of the forwardand backward support wall portions 44 placed on the carriage 41 of thevehicle 40. Thus, the surface fastener engagement portion 10 b′ arefixed by being face-to-face engaged.

The suspending pieces 10 a and the bottom face portion fixing pieces 10b may be employed for suspension on a hook 31 of a crane 30 as shown inFIG. 13 or FIG. 14 when the air tight, water resistant slide fastener 20is opened to spread out the flexible container main body 10 in orderthat the container 1 is subjected to washing, sterilizing or dryingtreatment.

In the present invention, particularly the mount position of the airtight, water resistant slide fastener 20 is important. FIG. 7 shows arelationship of its mount position. Referring to the figure, the airtight, water resistant slide fastener 20 is set at a position of aheight h that is substantially ⅓ of a total height h of the containerfrom the bottom face portion 12. The air tight, water resistant slidefastener 20 is continuously mounted all over the front face portion 13a, left side face portion 13 d, and rear face portion 13 b of theperipheral face portion 13 of the container main body 10. As shown inFIG. 4, ends of the air tight, water resistant slide fastener 20 areextended to an inward position by a predetermined length from the frontface portion 13 a and the rear face portion 13 b to the respectiveforward and backward end portions of the right side face portion 13 c.An upper stopper 20 a and a lower stopper 20 b of the air tight, waterresistant slide fastener 20 are attached respectively at the extensionpositions of the right side face portion 13 c.

FIG. 8A to FIG. 8D each show an example of various extension positionsof the air tight, water resistant slide fastener 20 according to thepresent invention. The upper stopper 20 a and lower stopper 20 b of theair tight, water resistant slide fastener 20, as shown in the example ofFIG. 4, i.e., as shown in FIG. 8A, are not limited to the right sideface portion 13 c of the flexible container main body 10. As shown inFIG. 8B to FIG. 8D, the left side face portion 13 d and the rear faceportion 13 b may be available. Alternatively, the upper stopper 20 a andthe lower stopper 20 b may be mounted separately to the right side faceportion 13 c and the left side face portion 13 d.

However, the upper stopper 20 a and the lower stopper 20 b are the mosteasily subjected to a shocking load during liquid transport. Inparticular, it is preferable to avoid mounting them to the front faceportion 13 a. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the stops 20 a and 20 bare respectively disposed at the forward and backward end sides of theright side face portion 13 c of the container main body 10 because thelargest load is applied to the front and rear face portions 13 a and 13b of the container main body 10 during liquid transport. In particular,if the stops 20 a and 20 b are disposed at the front face portion 13 ato which a large shocking load acts at a sudden stoppage, the stops 20 aand 20 b are easily damaged at an early stage.

According to the experiments, the aforementioned container 1 having ashape as shown in FIG. 4, the size of which is 4290 mm in length×2290 mmin width×1140 mm in height is employed. In a state that liquid of 11 m³is contained and sealed therein, stresses acting to the container duringtransport at positions indicated in {circle around (1)} to {circlearound (3)} shown in the figure were analyzed. Then, the result as shownin FIG. 36 was obtained.

As can be understood from FIG. 36, the largest stress is applied to theposition {circle around (1)} which is close to the front face portion 13a of the container top face portion 11. The second largest stress isapplied to the position {circle around (2)} of the front face portion 13a which is 200 mm downward from the container top portion 11. The leaststress is applied to the position {circle around (3)} of the front faceportion 13 a which is 200 to 300 mm upward from the container bottomface portion 12. In particular, in comparison with the other positions,the extremely small stress is applied to the position {circle around(3)} of the front face portion 13 a which is 200 to 300 mm upward fromthe container bottom face portion 12, which is substantially ⅓ of theposition {circle around (1)} close to the front face portion 13 a of thecontainer top face portion 11.

From this analysis results, it is found that, when the air tight, waterresistant slide fastener 20 is mounted to the flexible container 1 at aposition close to the lower side rather than upper side, a sudden changein stress caused by a sudden braking for example during liquid transportis small, and a transverse pulling force acting to the crossingdirection of the air tight, water resistant slide fastener 20 can bereduced. The mount position of the airtight, water resistant slidefastener 20 is determined depending on use frequency of the container 1,the braking count during liquid transport (general braking and suddenbraking counts), service life of the container 1, the service life ofthe air tight, water resistant slide fastener or the like. Therefore, itcannot be defined uniformly. As shown in FIG. 7, it is preferable thatthe mounting is performed at the position where the mount height h fromthe bottom face portion 12 of the container main body 10 is at least aheight position which is ½ or less of the total height H.

The structures and mounting embodiments of the air tight, waterresistant slide fastener 20 are shown in FIG. 7, FIG. 9, and FIG. 10. Ascan be understood from these figures, the air tight, water resistantslide fastener 20 comprises a pair of fastener stringers 23, 23 in whichside edges of water resistant tapes 21 made by coating elastic waterresistant layers such as of polyurethane resin onto fibrous base clothare bent and fixed in a substantial transverse Ω shape, and teeth 22 aremounted to the bent portions 21 c; and a slider 24 for engaging anddisengaging the opposite teeth 22, and for tight-contacting andseparating opposite vertical portions 21 c′ and 21 c″ from each other.The water resistant layer may be made of a variety of synthetic rubbers,polyvinyl chloride resin or the like, besides polyurethane resin asmentioned above.

The substantially transverse Ω shaped bent portions 21 c constitutetooth holding portions. Each of the tooth holding portions holds a legportion 22 b of a tooth 22 so that its coupling head 22 a protrudes.Furthermore, the bent portion 21 c is pinched by a C shaped tooth clamp25 from outside to pinch and fix the tooth 22. Upper and lower ends ofthe bent portion 21 c extend substantially vertically in flat shape.When the teeth 22 are engaged with one another, the correspondingportions of the mating teeth come into contact with each other so as toconstitute an air tight, water resistant structure.

The air tight, water resistant slide fastener 20 is opened and closed bysliding operation of the slider 24. At this time, the teeth 22 areguided in such a manner that the outsides of the bent portions 21 c forfixing the teeth 22 are introduced by a guide passage 24 a of the slider24 as shown in FIG. 10. The guide passage 24 a of the slider 24 servesto guide mutually opposed vertical portions 21 c′ and 21 c″ of the bendportions 21 c. Thus, as shown in FIG. 10, a guide grove 24 b and a slit24 c are formed respectively on a ceiling face and bottom face portionof the slider 24.

Furthermore, a connecting ring 27 with a pull tab 26 is pivotallymounted to the slider 24 as shown in FIG. 11. When the air tight, waterresistant slide fastener 20 is closed by closing operation of the slider24, the slider 24 abuts against a rear face of the upper stopper 20 a.

After this abutment, the connecting ring 27 is turned so as to beengagingly fitted to a front face of the upper stopper 20 a as shown inFIG. 12. In this manner, the slider 24 is prevented from movingspontaneously due to liquid movement or vehicle vibration during liquidtransport.

Further, the air tight, water resistant slide fastener 20 is preferablymounted to the container main body 10 through high-frequency fusing orultrasonic fusing rather than sewing in order to ensure air-tightnessand water-residence. In the case of such fusing, it is preferable thatthe same thermoplastic resin is employed because higher affinityincreases the fusing strength. In the embodiment, polyurethane resin isused as a coating material for the water resistant tape 21, and alsopolyurethane resin is used as a resin material for coating a fiberreinforce layer constituting the container main body 10. Of course, inthe present invention, the coating materials for the water resistanttape 21 and the materials for coating the fiber reinforce later are notlimited to such polyurethane resin. It is possible to use anotherthermoplastic synthetic resin material as described previously.

FIG. 13 shows an embodiment in which a flexible container main body 10having the above structure is subjected to washing or sterilizingtreatment.

In the container main body 10 according to the above-describedembodiment as described previously, the air tight, water resistant slidefastener 20 is peripherally mounted on the peripheral face portion 13 ofthe container main body 10 up to the forward and backward ends of theright side face portion 13 c thereof. When the air tight, waterresistant slide fastener 20 is opened by the slider 24, the containermain body 10 is spread out in a substantially reverse V shape via theright side face portion 13 c so as to expose the internal face of thecontainer to the outside. In such a state, the suspending pieces 10 aand bottom face portion fixing pieces 10 b mounted to the right sideface portion 13 c side of the container main body 10 are utilized to behooked and suspended on a hook 31 of a crane 30. Then, the crane 30 islowered, and the spread out container main body 10 is immersed inwashing liquid 33 in a washing treatment vessel 32, whereby the washingis performed.

In this manner, the container main body 10 can be washed and sterilizedat one time while the container 10 is spread out. Further, when thecontainer is moved to a next drying step, the crane 30 is moved, therebymaking it possible to easily move the container 10. Moreover, drainingof the liquid in the container main body 10 can be achieved on the wayof its movement, and thus the drying efficiency is improved.

In such a washing or sterilizing treatment, not only the container mainbody 10 is entered into the treatment vessel 32, but also the washingliquid or sterilizing solution may be jetted to the spread out inside ofthe container main body 10 by a jetting nozzle 34 as shown in FIG. 14.

Reference numeral 36 in the figure denotes a tensile rope removablyconnected to the suspending piece 10 a and the bottom face portionfixing piece 10 b. If this tensile rope 36 is pulled in left and rightdirections, the container main body 10 can be positively spread out,whereby washing or sterilizing treatment can be facilitated.

In the meantime, in a case of a slider structure as shown in FIG. 11, ifthe slider 24 is merely engagingly fitted onto the upper stopper 20 avia the connecting ring 27, the connecting ring 27 may slip off from theupper stopper 20 a due to liquid movement during liquid transport orvehicle vibration. As a result, the slider 24 and the upper stopper 20 atend to come into non-contact with each other, so that the end of theupper stopper 20 a side of the air tight, water resistant slide fastener20 may open and a liquid leakage can occur.

FIG. 15 shows an example in which engaging and disengaging means forremovably engaging the slider 24 and the right side face portion 13 c ofthe container main body 10 with each other is provided in order toreliably prevent the aforementioned liquid leakage. In an example of theengaging and disengaging means shown in the figure, a female member 28 aof a snap fastener is fixed to the above-mentioned pull tab 26 of theslider 24, and a male member 28 b of the snap fastener is fixed to theright side face portion 13 c.

When the air tight, water resistant slide fastener 20 is closed, theconnecting ring 27 of the slider 24 is turned to be engagingly fittedonto the upper stopper 20 a. Further, as shown in FIG. 16, the malemember 28 b is engaged with the female member 28 a, whereby theconnecting ring 27 is prevented from slipping off from the upper stopper20 a, as far as they are intentionally disengaged from each other. As aresult, no liquid leakage occurs. Furthermore, even if the connectingring 27 of the slider 24 is not adapted to be engaged to the upperstopper 20 a, only engaging and disengaging means using theaforementioned snap fastener may be, of course, employed to ensureengagement.

FIG. 17 shows a modified example of the engaging and disengaging means.While the connecting ring 27 is engagingly fitted onto the upper stopper20 a, the female member 29 a and male member 29 b of the surfacefastener are engaged with each other within a range of the right sideface portion 13 c of the container main body 10 and where the pull tab26 of the slider 24 can reach. At this time, the surface fastener isfixed so as to be pressed to the surface of the right side face portion13 c encompassing the pull tab 26 by the surface fastener. Although itis not shown, the female member 29 a or male member 29 b of the surfacefastener may be integrally mounted or molded to the pull tab so that themating male member 29 b or female member 29 a can be fixed to thesurface of the right side face portion 13 c of the container main body10, whereby the strength in engagement of the pull tab 26 with the rightside face portion 13 c increases.

In FIG. 18, a stirring port 14 protruded in a substantially rectangularshape is provided at a center of the top face portion 11 of thecontainer main body 10. An air tight, water resistant slide fastener 35,which is similar in construction to the air tight, water resistant slidefastener 20, is fixed to an opening of the top portion, thereby makingit possible to open or close the opening. By doing this, the air tight,water resistant slide fastener 35 is spaced from the top face portion 11of the container main body 10, and moreover, the stirring port 14 can bedetermined to an arbitrary size without being influenced by variousscale of the pressure applied during liquid transport.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view schematically illustrating an appearanceof another embodiment of the flexible container 1.

Like the above illustrative embodiment, a cylindrical liquid stirringport 14 is protruded at a position close to the rear face portion of thetop face portion 11 of the flexible container main body 10 according tothe present embodiment. To the opening, there is mounted an air tight,water resistant slide faster 35 having the same structure as the airtight, water resistant slide fastener 20 mounted to the peripheral faceportion 13. In the case where the air tight, water resistant slidefastener 35 mounted to the opening of this liquid stirring port 14 isopened and closed by its necessary amount, thereby evacuating redundantair in the container to the outside, the slide fastener 35 constitutes apart of the air evacuating means according to the present invention.

Furthermore, even at the rear face portion 13 b of the container mainbody 10, a liquid injecting and ejecting port 15 for liquid beingtransported is protruded at the lower end center thereof. A hose or thelike (not shown) is connected to this liquid injecting and ejectingportion 15 from outside for injection and ejection. Further, this liquidinjecting and ejecting port 15 plays an important role when anotherwashing method of the present invention is implemented, as describedlater.

Like the aforementioned embodiment, tape looped container suspendingpieces 10 a are mounted respectively to the four upper corners of theflexible container main body 10. These container suspending pieces 10 aare used to lift an upper portion of the container 10 and facilitate airentry into the container main body 10 via the above-mentioned liquidinjecting and ejecting port 15, as described previously. During liquidtransport, the flexible container 1 is suspended through a waveeliminating bar (not shown) extended above the container. The waveeliminating bar restrains a vertical movement of the top face portion 11of the container main body 10 from above and restricts waving of theliquid due to vibration caused during transport.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6 and as described previously, four bottomface portion fixing pieces 10 b each comprising a band shapedself-fastening type surface fastener are mounted at the lower end edgesof the front face portion 13 a and rear face portion 13 b of theflexible container main body 10. Here, a self-fastening type surfacefastener is referred to as a surface fastener comprising an engagementface in which a number of hook shaped engagement elements and loopshaped engagement elements coexist, and are provided on one side of atape, for example. The self-engaging surface fastener has a function forengaging the coexisting hook shaped engagement elements with loop shapedengagement by compressing the engagement faces of the same tape and fordisengaging the mutually engaged hook shaped engagement elements fromloop shaped engagement when a force is applied to a direction in itsfastening face.

In the embodiment, the container suspending pieces 10 a and the bottomface portion fixing pieces 10 b are employed for suspension on the hookof a hoist 130 as shown in FIG. 26 to FIG. 28 when the air tight, waterresistant slide fastener 20 is opened, and the flexible container mainbody 10 is spread out, thereby subjecting the container 1 to washing,sterilizing, disinfecting, or drying treatment. Further, in theembodiment as well, the mount positions of the air tight, waterresistant slide fastener 20, the upper stopper 20 a and lower stopper 20b are particularly important. These stops are mounted at their positionssimilar to those in the above embodiment. The functions of these stopsare described in detail in the above embodiment, and thus, the detaileddescription thereof is omitted here.

FIG. 20 shows a layout example of various apparatuses or devices in afirst washing equipment according to the present invention for thepurpose of performing washing, sterilizing and disinfecting treatment,and drying of the flexible container 1 having the above structure. Thiswashing equipment 100 is installed in a washing and storage specificbuilding 101, and a hoist movement rail 102 is bridged in a longitudinaldirection on a ceiling of the building 101. A hoist (not shown) isarranged at the hoist movement rail 102. Two or more hoists may bearranged. According to the illustrated example, a work site 103 is laidout at a center of the building 101, the flexible container 1 to bewashed, which was carried in a folded state from the outside, is loadedon a suspending metal fitting 104 at the work site 103, is prepared formovement to the washing steps or for a variety of maintenanceactivities. A warm water tank 105 for washing liquid and a tank 106containing sodium hypochlorite aqueous solution for sterilization anddisinfection are placed outside of the building 101. Although it is notshown, a water tank may be further placed.

A boiler chamber 107 is placed outside of the work site 103. A washingarea C is formed to be partitioned adjacent to one side of the work site103, and a washing stage (a washing base) 108 is placed at a center ofthe washing area C. According to this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 21,the washing stage 108 has an area equal to an inclined face 108 a onwhich the flexible container 1 is placed to be spread out in itscontracted state. In other words, the stage has an area and shape whichare substantially equal and identical to the bottom face portion 12 ofthe container 1. A plurality of columns 108 b are provided at aperipheral edge of the inclined face 108 a of the washing stage 108 forsupporting the container 1 at the periphery thereof when the flexiblecontainer 1 spread out in its contracted state is formed to be in awrinkle free, swelled state. The container placement face of the washingstage 108 may not be such an inclined face but may be a mere horizontalface.

According to this embodiment, in addition to the washing stage 108,there are arranged in the washing area C various devices such as ajetting nozzle 109 for jetting washing liquid, sterilizing anddisinfecting solution; a jetting nozzle 110 for washing the outersurface of the flexible container 1; a hand-held blower 111 for blowingair into the flexible container 1; and similarly a blower 112 forblowing air into the flexible container 1 via an air hose 118.

On the other hand, a drying area D is formed to be partitioned on aopposite side of the work site 103. In this drying area D, there arearranged a heater 113, a fan 114, a sterilizing lamp 115, and an ozonegenerator 116. This drying area D has such a structure that communicateswith the work site 103 adjacent to the drying area D, and a storagechamber S, which will be described later, respectively. A storagechamber S for storing the washed flexible container 1 is formed to bepartitioned adjacent to the drying area D on a opposite side to the worksite 103. A plurality of racks 117 are provided to be partitioned inseveral lines in the storage chamber S.

By the first washing equipment 100 having the above construction, theflexible container 1 having been carried from outside is washed asfollows. First, the folded and carried flexible container 1 istransferred to the suspending metal fitting 104 suspended by a hoist(not shown). Then, the suspending metal fitting 104 is moved to above ofthe inclined face 108 a of the washing stage 108 in the washing area Cby driving the hoist, and the flexible container 1 is transferred to theinclined face 108 a of the washing stage 108. The flexible container 1transferred to the inclined face 108 a is spread out so that the bottomface portion 12 is at the bottom. At this time, it is checked to ensurethat the air tight, water resistant slide fasteners 20 and 35 are fullyclosed, and the liquid injecting and ejecting port 15 is oriented to thelower end of the inclined face 108 a (see FIG. 21).

Then, as shown in FIG. 22, the air is blown from the liquid injectingand ejecting port 15 to the inside of the container 1 using thehand-held blower 111, and the container 1 is swelled. The hand-heldblower 111 according to this embodiment is capable of blowing an air of2.8 m³ per minute·560 mmAq. There is a danger that, if air is blownexcessively during this air blowing, the container 1 is explored. Thus,in general, it is preferable to blow the air of such a quantity that isabout 80% of the capacity of the flexible container 1 within 10 minutes.

After the flexible container 1 is thus swelled to be formed in shape,the air blowing by the hand-held blower 111 is stopped. With the liquidstirring port 14 opened, the jetting nozzle 109 is inserted from theliquid stirring port 14 into the container as shown in FIG. 23, and thewarm water as washing liquid is jetted toward an internal wall face ofthe container 1. At this time, while the liquid injecting and ejectingport 15 is kept open, air is blown simultaneously from the blower 112via the air hose 118. By blowing such air, the flexible container 1 isprevented from being contracted, and the liquid ejection from the airinjecting and ejecting port 15 is facilitated. In the presentembodiment, a three-dimensional jetting nozzle is employed for thejetting nozzle 109. This three-dimensional jetting nozzle has aspherically shaped head portion or has a structure for jetting theliquid in radiant shape as being rotated by the liquid pressure. Thewashing liquid can be jetted uniformly toward the internal wall face ofthe flexible container 1.

In the present embodiment, means for forming the container 1 in itsnormal shape is effected by blowing air. However, by taking advantage ofthe fact that the container 1 has container suspending pieces 10 a andthe bottom face portion fixing pieces 10 b, the entire container may beformed in wrinkle free, normal shape by suspending the containersuspending pieces 10 a on the hoist as shown in FIG. 24, and pulling thebottom face portion fixing pieces 10 b in all directions to be fixed sothat the bottom face portion 12 is spread out. Or, both of these meansand the above-described air blowing can be used together.

The liquid ejected from the liquid injecting and ejecting port 15becomes transparent when pre-washing has been completed. After thecompletion of this pre-washing, sterilizing and disinfecting treatmentis done as finish washing. The sterilizing and disinfecting treatmentaccording to the present embodiment is performed in the same manner asthe aforementioned pre-washing. As washing liquid (sterilizing anddisinfecting solution) for this purpose, there can be used a chlorinebased agent, for example, an aqueous solution of sodium hypochloritewhose concentration is 300 ppm or less, in place of warm water.

Further, in the present embodiment, after the sterilizing anddisinfecting treatment has been done, the similar washing operationusing warm water is performed, and the washing steps are ended. In thepresent embodiment, during the above washing, the warm water is jettedto the external surface of the container 1 by using the jetting nozzle110, so that the outer face is washed simultaneously. At this time, thejetting nozzle 110 has a capacity of 150 kg/cm²·15 l per minute. Whenthe material of the container 1 is considered, it is desirable that thejetting nozzle 110 is operated at least by 1 m distant from thecontainer 1 during the warm water jetting. After the pre-washing andfinish washing has been thus completed, the flexible container 1 isopened at the air tight, water resistant slide fastener 20 mounted tothe peripheral face portion 13 of the container 1 in order to visuallycheck whether or not residue remains at the inside of the container. Ifthe residue or the like remains, it is wiped out using brush or the liketogether with washing liquid.

After all the washing steps have been completed, the flexible container1 is transferred by means of a hoist (not shown) to the drying area Dthat is the next step. This drying area D is heated by means of a heater113, and at the same time, a fan 114 installed on the ceiling rotates,so that the whole area is maintained at 80° C. After washing andsterilizing & disinfecting steps have been completed, the flexiblecontainer 1 is dried in this drying area D for 60 minutes. If 60 minutesare exceeded, the material of the container 1 is likely to be degraded,which is not preferable. Furthermore, the sterilizing lamp 115 and theozone generator 116 are placed in this drying area D, thereby ensuringsterilization against the washed flexible container 1.

After the drying process has been completed in the drying area D, all ofthe liquid injecting and ejecting port 15, the air light, waterresistant slide fasteners 20 and 35 of the respective liquid stirringport 14 and the peripheral face portion 13 of the flexible container 1are closed. After the container has been folded, the container istransferred to the storage chamber S, and is maintained on the rack ofthe storage chamber S. At this time, the procedure for folding theflexible container 1 conforms to the folding procedure when pre-washinghas been completed on a vehicle, which will be described later.

FIG. 25 shows a second washing equipment 120 for a transport flexiblecontainer according to the present invention. According to the abovefirst washing equipment 100, while the air tight, water resistant slidefasteners 20 and 35 are closed and the flexible container 1 is swelled,the washing liquid is jetted from the jetting nozzle 109, whereby theinternal wall face of the container 1 is subjected to pre-washing andfinish washing. In this washing equipment 120, while the above airtight, water resistant slide fasteners 20 and 35 are opened, theflexible container 1 is washed.

As shown in the figure, also in this second washing equipment 120, ahoist movement rail 122 is extended in a longitudinal direction on aceiling in a washing, drying, storage specific building 121, like thefirst washing equipment 100. A hoist (not shown) is disposed at thehoist movement rail 122. Two or more hoists may be provided. Accordingto the illustrated example, a work site 123 is placed at a center of abuilding 121, and the flexible container 1 to be washed, which wascarried in its folded state from outside, is placed on a suspendingmetal fitting 124 at the work site 123, where it is prepared formovement to each washing step or for a variety of maintenanceactivities.

A boiler chamber 126 is placed at the outside of the work site 123.Further, the washing area C is formed to be partitioned adjacent to oneside of the work site 123. In this washing area C, a washing liquidvessel 127 and a finish liquid vessel 128 are arranged in line in anextension direction of the hoist movement rail 122. According to theequipment of the present embodiment, an aqueous solution of 5 wt. %alkaline detergent of 60° C. is stored in the washing liquid vessel 127,and an aqueous solution containing a sodium hypochlorite whoseconcentration is 300 ppm or less is stored in the finish liquid vessel128. Although it is not shown, a warm water vessel containing a warmwater of about 60° C. may be placed adjacent to the finish liquid vessel128. Further, in the work site 123, a jetting nozzle 129 for washing theouter surface of the flexible container 1 is arranged besides theaforementioned respective liquid vessels.

On the other hand, in this equipment of the present invention, a dryingarea D is formed to be partitioned on the other opposite side of thework site 123 like the above first washing equipment 100. A storagechamber S for storing the washed flexible container 1 is formed to bepartitioned on a side of and adjacent to the drying area D opposite tothe work site 123. In the storage chamber S, a plurality of containerstorage racks 117 are provided to be partitioned in several lines.

According to the thus constructed second washing equipment 120, theflexible container 1 to be washed is carried from outside in its foldedstate while the air light, water resistant slide fasteners 20 and 35thereof are fully opened, and is suspended by hooking the containersuspending pieces 10 a and the bottom face portion fixing pieces 10 b ona non-opening and closing portion 13 e side on the suspending metalfitting 124. At this time, hooking portions of the suspending metalfitting 124 by the container suspending pieces 10 a and bottom faceportion fixing pieces 10 b are positioned to be as close to each otheras possible in order to ensure the hooking. Thus, when the containersuspending pieces 10 a and the bottom face portion fixing pieces 10 bare hooked on the suspending metal fitting 124, the flexible container 1is spread out in a reverse V shape as being fanned out about a basicpoint of the non-opening and closing portion 13 e, so that the inside ofthe container is exposed to the outside.

When this container is spread out in such a reverse V shape, thecontainer suspending pieces 10 a and the bottom face portion fixingpieces 10 b are pulled by wire or the like in a direction in which theyare apart from each other. Then first, the inside and outside of thecontainer 1 is washed by means of the jetting nozzle 129. At this time,as is the case with washing by the facility 100 according to the firstembodiment, washing is performed in a state that the jetting nozzle 129is distant at least by 1 m from the surface of the flexible container 1.Next, as indicated by solid lines shown in FIG. 27, a hoist 130 isdriven and the flexible container 1 is moved immediately above thewashing vessel 127.

FIG. 27 shows the washing procedure using the second washing equipment120. The flexible container 1 moved immediately above the washing vessel127 as described above is lowered together with the suspending metalfitting 124 by unwinding a chain (not shown) of the hoist 130. Then, thecontainer 1 is immersed in warm water of the washing liquid vessel 127containing an alkaline detergent in a state that the container 1 isbeing spread out. In the present embodiment, the immersion time is setto about 30 minutes. If this time has exceeded, the chain (not shown) ofthe hoist 130 is wound up, so that the washed flexible container 1 ispulled up from the washing liquid vessel 127 together with thesuspending metal fitting 124.

The thus pre-washed and pulled up flexible container 1 is movedimmediately above the finish liquid vessel 128 indicated by virtuallines shown in FIG. 27 by driving the hoist 130 again. Here, as in thewashing operation, the container 1 is immersed for about 10 minutes inan aqueous solution containing a sodium hypochlorite of the finishliquid vessel 128. Then sterilization and disinfecting are performed,the container 1 is pulled up from the aqueous solution, so that thefinish washing is completed. Although it is not shown, in the presentembodiment, after the finish washing has been completed, the hoist 130is driven and the washed flexible container 1 is immersed in the warmwater contained in the warm water vessel (not shown) so that all of thewashing steps are completed.

In this manner, washing, sterilizing and disinfecting can be performedconcurrently with the container 1 being spread out. Further, as in thefirst washing equipment, when the container 1 is transferred to the nextdrying step, the container 1 can be easily moved by moving the hoist130. Moreover, draining of the liquid in the container main body 10 isachieved in the middle of such movement, so that the drying efficiencyis improved.

In such a washing or sterilizing and disinfecting treatment, without useof a treatment liquid vessel, the washing liquid, sterilizing anddisinfecting solution can be jetted sequentially to the inside of thespread out container main body 10 by means of the jetting nozzles 131and 132 as shown in FIG. 28. In the washing method shown in FIG. 27,although the jetting nozzles 131 and 132 respectively specific to thewashing liquid, sterilizing and disinfecting solution are used, only onejetting nozzle can be employed for all of the washing steps.

FIG. 28 shows a washing liquid jetting apparatus 135 capable ofperforming three washing steps of pre-washing, finish washing, and warmwater washing with only one jetting nozzle 133 while the flexiblecontainer 1 is being spread out. The washing liquid jetting apparatus135 according to the present embodiment comprises: a washing tank 136storing 60° C. warm water containing alkaline detergent as describedabove; a finish tank 137 storing an aqueous solution containing sodiumhypochlorite as described above; and a warm water tank 138 storing 60°C. warm water. The tanks 136 to 138 are respectively connected to threeinput ports of a 5-port switching valve 139, and the jetting nozzle 133is connected to an output port. The remaining one port serves as aneutral port. The number of ports should not be limited to the aboveembodiment but may be increased. Alternatively, a three-dimensionaljetting nozzle is used for the jetting nozzle 133, thereby making itpossible to install this washing liquid jetting apparatus 135 on theaforementioned first washing equipment 100.

Description of the washing equipment and method applicable to theflexible container 1 for liquid transport according to the presentinvention has now been completed. The liquid to be transported by theflexible container 1 of such type is often perishable drinks. Therefore,if the liquid in the container is replaced in another container at atransport destination, and is returned back to the transport source, theresidual liquid in the container or the residue adhering to the internalwall of the container often causes bacteria or mold to occur or theresidual liquid is perished. In the present invention, an empty flexiblecontainer 1 is subjected to temporary immediately after the liquid inthe container has been replaced in another container at the transportdestination, depending on the type of the transport liquid.

FIG. 30 to FIG. 32 show that the temporary washing can be performed on atransport vehicle. On a floor face of a transport vehicle 40, there isprovided a hand-held blower 45 for initially blowing air in the flexiblecontainer 1 to be swelled; and an opening and closing valve 47 or thelike to be used when a hose is connected to a liquid injecting andejecting port 15 when liquid is charged in the container 1 as describedpreviously. Further, there are a support wall portion 44 consisting of asteel material panel for restricting and supporting movement of forwardand backward face portions 13 a and 13 b of the container 1 after theliquid charge, and a wave eliminating bar (not shown) for restrictingvertical movement of the top face portion 13 of the flexible container 1during liquid transport, bridging above the container 1. In the presentembodiment, the temporary washing is performed by utilizing theaforementioned members equipped on the vehicle 40.

In order to perform the temporary washing of the flexible container 1 onthe vehicle, firstly the support wall portion 44 and the waveeliminating bar are set at their predetermined positions, a bottom faceportion 12 is placed downside on the floor face between these members,and the flexible container 1 immediately after liquid ejection is placedas being spread out (see FIG. 30). At this time, the opening and closingvalve 47 is mounted to the liquid injecting and ejecting port 15 of thecontainer 1, and all of the other openings are kept closed. In theillustrated example, although the floor face of the vehicle 40 is usedas a horizontal face, a wedge shaped washing base 40′ for example may beplaced on the floor face of the vehicle 40 as shown in FIG. 33, on whichthe spread out flexible container 1 is placed in the same manner as inthe first washing equipment so that the temporary washing may beperformed. The washing base 40′ can be equipped on the vehicle if it hassuch a structure that can be assembled and dissembled.

Next, the hand-held blower 45 is mounted on the opening and closingvalve 47, the valve 47 is opened to blow air into the container 1 sothat the container 1 is formed to be in a wrinkle free, swelled state(see FIG. 31). Then, the opening and closing valve 47 is closed, thehand-held blower 45 is removed from the valve 47, to which the liquidinjecting and ejecting hose 48 is connected. Then, the opening andclosing valve 47 is opened, and warm water of about 60° C. is injectedfrom the liquid injecting and ejecting port 15 (see FIG. 32). Duringthis liquid injection, the air tight, water resistant slide fastener 35mounted to the liquid stirring port 14 is opened to a required extent,and the air in the container 1 is ejected according to an increase ininjected quantity of washing liquid. After the injection quantity ofwarm water has reached a predetermined charge quantity, the warm wateris ejected from the liquid injecting and ejecting port 15 to the outsidetogether with the residual liquid of transport liquid.

After it is verified that the warm water has been ejected, the flexiblecontainer 1 is folded. FIGS. 34 shows an example of the procedure forfolding the flexible container 1 on a vehicle.

First, as shown in FIG. 34A, the flexible container 1 spread out afterthe inside washing liquid has been ejected is folded upwardly from itsopposite sides respectively by ⅓ of its width as indicated by the arrowshown in FIG. 34B. Then, the container 1 is folded back so as to beconvoluted from the front end side to the rear end side of the container1. At this time, the residual liquid inside of the container 1 outflowsfrom the liquid injecting and ejecting port 15 protruding from the rearend as if the liquid were squeezed. The thus folded flexible container 1is lifted from the carriage of the vehicle 40, and is stored in apredetermined container storage section (not shown). The procedure forfolding the flexible container 1 is applicable to the folding procedurewhen the container is stored in the storage rack after washing asdescribed previously.

As is evident from the foregoing description, the flexible container 1for liquid transport according to the present invention is formed with anon-opening and closing portion at a part of the peripheral face thereofand is mounted with the air tight, water resistant slide fastener 20 onthe peripheral face so that the container can be separated into the topface portion side and the bottom face portion side. Thus, the slidefastener 20 can be opened as required, whereby the inside of thecontainer can be exposed to the outside. As a result, for example, whenthe flexible container 1 has been washed, the state of the inside of thecontainer can be visually checked, thus making it possible to ensurereliable washing.

Further, the air tight, water resistant slide fastener 20 is mounted asdescribed previously, whereby the inside and outside of the container 1can be washed simultaneously when the slide fastener 20 is opened andthe container 1 is spread out, thus making it possible to achieveefficient washing. Further, in the flexible container 1, the containersuspending pieces 10 a and the bottom face portion fixing pieces 10 bare mounted at least at four corners thereof. Thus, not only thecontainer 1 can be fixed on the floor face of the vehicle, but alsothese pieces can be efficiently utilized during the washing as describedabove.

Moreover, in the washing method according to the present invention, theliquid stirring port 14, liquid injecting ejecting port 15 which areformed at the flexible container 1 or various devices and membersequipped on the transport vehicle for charging liquid in the flexiblecontainer are utilized for stirring operation or liquid injection orejection during transport liquid charge, or are utilized in transport.Further, as described above, the respective structures or devices andthe like can be efficiently utilized for a variety of washingactivities, which ensures that the usability of the present invention isvery high in the art.

It can be understood from the foregoing description that the presentinvention should not be limited to the above embodiments, and variousmodifications can be made within the scope and spirit of the presentinvention.

1. An equipment for washing a flexible container for liquid transportmade of an air tight, water resistant sheet material, the flexiblecontainer including a top face portion, a bottom face portion, and aperipheral face portion connecting the top face portion and bottom faceportion, and comprising a liquid stirring port formed on the top faceportion, a liquid injecting and ejecting port formed on the peripheralface portion in the vicinity of the bottom face portion and an airtight, water resistant slide fastener mounted to the peripheral faceportion with an exception of a non-opening and closing portion, saidwashing equipment including: a washing area and a drying area aspartition for the flexible container; guide passages provided betweenthe washing area and the drying area for guiding and suspending theflexible container; and suspending and movement means for the flexiblecontainer for guiding and moving it to the guide passages.
 2. A washingequipment according to claim 1, wherein the guide passages are furtherextended to a storage area for the flexible container.
 3. A washingequipment according to claim 1, wherein the washing area has containerforming means for forming the empty flexible container to be in itsswelled state.
 4. A washing equipment according to claim 3, wherein thecontainer forming means is a blower for blowing air into the container.5. A washing equipment according to claim 1, wherein the washing areaincludes a washing base having an inclined face on its top face forplacing the flexible container in such a position that the liquidinjecting and ejecting port is at a lower side of the inclined face. 6.A washing equipment according to claim 1, wherein the washing areaincludes a jetting nozzle to be inserted into a liquid stirring port ofthe flexible container for radiantly jetting washing liquid toward aninternal wall of the container.
 7. A washing equipment according toclaim 1, wherein the washing area includes a washing liquid vessel and asterilizing and disinfecting solution vessel where the flexiblecontainer is to be immersed therein.
 8. A washing equipment according toclaim 1, wherein the washing area further includes a jetting nozzle forjetting warm water of 40 to 70° C.
 9. A washing equipment according toclaim 1, wherein the washing area includes tanks for storing the washingliquid, sterilizing and disinfecting solution, and warm water; andjetting nozzles connected to the tanks via at least a 5-port switchingvalve.
 10. A washing equipment according to claim 1, wherein the dryingarea includes a heater and a warm air blowing fan.
 11. A washingequipment according to claim 10, wherein the drying area furtherincludes a sterilizing and disinfecting lamp.
 12. A washing equipmentaccording to claim 10, wherein the drying area further includes an ozonegenerator.